Hwanho Choi

5-Carboxy-8-hydroxyquinoline is a Broad Spectrum 2-Oxoglutarate Oxygenase Inhibitor which Causes Iron Translocation.

2-Oxoglutarate and iron dependent oxygenases are therapeutic targets for human diseases. Using a representative 2OG oxygenase panel, we compare the inhibitory activities of 5-carboxy-8-hydroxyquinoline (IOX1) and 4-carboxy-8-hydroxyquinoline (4C8HQ) with that of two other commonly used 2OG oxygenase inhibitors, N-oxalylglycine (NOG) and 2,4-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (2,4-PDCA). The results reveal that IOX1 has a broad spectrum of activity, as demonstrated by the inhibition of transcription factor hydroxylases, representatives of all 2OG dependent histone demethylase subfamilies, nucleic acid demethylases and γ-butyrobetaine hydroxylase. Cellular assays show that, unlike NOG and 2,4-PDCA, IOX1 is active against both cytosolic and nuclear 2OG oxygenases without ester derivatisation. Unexpectedly, crystallographic studies on these oxygenases demonstrate that IOX1, but not 4C8HQ, can cause translocation of the active site metal, revealing a rare example of protein ligand-induced metal movement.

Prediction of molecular solvation free energy based on the optimization of atomic solvation parameters with genetic algorithm.

We propose an improved solvent contact model to estimate the solvation free energy of an organic molecule from individual atomic contributions. The modification of the solvation model involves the optimization of three kinds of parameters in the solvation free energy function: atomic fragmental volume, maximum atomic occupancy, and atomic solvation parameters. All of these atomic parameters for 24 atom types are developed by the operation of a standard genetic algorithm in such a way as to minimize the difference between experimental and calculated solvation free energies. The data set for experimental solvation free energies is divided into a training set of 131 compounds and a test set of 24 compounds. Linear regressions with the optimized atomic parameters yield fits with the squared correlation coefficients (r2) of 0.89 and 0.86 for the training set and for the test set, respectively. Overall, the results indicate that the improved solvent contact model with the newly developed atomic parameters would be a useful tool for rapid calculation of molecular solvation free energies in aqueous solution.

Structure of human RNA N6-methyladenine demethylase ALKBH5 provides insights into its mechanisms of nucleic acid recognition and demethylation

ALKBH5 is a 2-oxoglutarate (2OG) and ferrous iron-dependent nucleic acid oxygenase (NAOX) that catalyzes the demethylation of N6-methyladenine in RNA. ALKBH5 is upregulated under hypoxia and plays a role in spermatogenesis. We describe a crystal structure of human ALKBH5 (residues 66–292) to 2.0 Å resolution. ALKBH566–292 has a double-stranded β-helix core fold as observed in other 2OG and iron-dependent oxygenase family members. The active site metal is octahedrally coordinated by an HXD…H motif (comprising residues His204, Asp206 and His266) and three water molecules. ALKBH5 shares a nucleotide recognition lid and conserved active site residues with other NAOXs. A large loop (βIV–V) in ALKBH5 occupies a similar region as the L1 loop of the fat mass and obesity-associated protein that is proposed to confer single-stranded RNA selectivity. Unexpectedly, a small molecule inhibitor, IOX3, was observed covalently attached to the side chain of Cys200 located outside of the active site. Modelling substrate into the active site based on other NAOX–nucleic acid complexes reveals conserved residues important for recognition and demethylation mechanisms. The structural insights will aid in the development of inhibitors selective for NAOXs, for use as functional probes and for therapeutic benefit.

A Cell‐Permeable Ester Derivative of the JmjC Histone Demethylase Inhibitor IOX1

The 2‐oxoglutarate (2OG)‐dependent Jumonji C domain (JmjC) family is the largest family of histone lysine demethylases. There is interest in developing small‐molecule probes that modulate JmjC activity to investigate their biological roles. 5‐Carboxy‐8‐hydroxyquinoline (IOX1) is the most potent broad‐spectrum inhibitor of 2OG oxygenases, including the JmjC demethylases, reported to date; however, it suffers from low cell permeability. Here, we describe structure–activity relationship studies leading to the discovery of an n‐octyl ester form of IOX1 with improved cellular potency (EC50 value of 100 to 4 μM). These findings are supported by in vitro inhibition and selectivity studies, docking studies, activity versus toxicity analysis in cell cultures, and intracellular uptake measurements. The n‐octyl ester was found to have improved cell permeability; it was found to inhibit some JmjC demethylases in its intact ester form and to be more selective than IOX1. The n‐octyl ester of IOX1 should find utility as a starting point for the development of JmjC inhibitors and as a use as a cell‐permeable tool compound for studies investigating the roles of 2OG oxygenases in epigenetic regulation.

Identification of a pathogenic FTO mutation by next-generation sequencing in a newborn with growth retardation and developmental delay

Background A homozygous loss-of-function mutation p.(Arg316Gln) in the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene, which encodes for an iron and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent oxygenase, was previously identified in a large family in which nine affected individuals present with a lethal syndrome characterised by growth retardation and multiple malformations. To date, no other pathogenic mutation in FTO has been identified as a cause of multiple congenital malformations. Methods We investigated a 21-month-old girl who presented distinctive facial features, failure to thrive, global developmental delay, left ventricular cardiac hypertrophy, reduced vision and bilateral hearing loss. We performed targeted next-generation sequencing of 4813 clinically relevant genes in the patient and her parents. Results We identified a novel FTO homozygous missense mutation (c.956C>T; p.(Ser319Phe)) in the affected individual. This mutation affects a highly conserved residue located in the same functional domain as the previously characterised mutation p.(Arg316Gln). Biochemical studies reveal that p.(Ser319Phe) FTO has reduced 2-oxoglutarate turnover and N-methyl-nucleoside demethylase activity. Conclusion Our findings are consistent with previous reports that homozygous mutations in FTO can lead to rare growth retardation and developmental delay syndrome, and further support the proposal that FTO plays an important role in early development of human central nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Structural and stereoelectronic insights into oxygenase-catalyzed formation of ethylene from 2-oxoglutarate.

Significance The plant-signaling molecule ethylene is biosynthesized from 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), as catalyzed by ACC oxidase, which is homologous to the 2-oxoglutarate (2OG) oxygenases, but which does not use a 2OG cosubstrate. Bacteria produce ethylene in a highly unusual reaction that involves oxidative 2OG fragmentation. Biophysical studies on a Pseudomonas ethylene-forming enzyme (EFE) reveal how structural and stereoelectronic factors enable the EFE to bias reaction away from normal 2OG oxygenase catalysis involving two-electron substrate oxidation concomitant with succinate formation, toward the arginine-dependent four-electron oxidation of 2OG to give ethylene. The results imply that negative catalysis, with respect to ethylene formation, has operated during the evolution of 2OG oxygenases and will be useful in protein engineering aimed at optimizing ethylene production. Ethylene is important in industry and biological signaling. In plants, ethylene is produced by oxidation of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, as catalyzed by 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase. Bacteria catalyze ethylene production, but via the four-electron oxidation of 2-oxoglutarate to give ethylene in an arginine-dependent reaction. Crystallographic and biochemical studies on the Pseudomonas syringae ethylene-forming enzyme reveal a branched mechanism. In one branch, an apparently typical 2-oxoglutarate oxygenase reaction to give succinate, carbon dioxide, and sometimes pyrroline-5-carboxylate occurs. Alternatively, Grob-type oxidative fragmentation of a 2-oxoglutarate–derived intermediate occurs to give ethylene and carbon dioxide. Crystallographic and quantum chemical studies reveal that fragmentation to give ethylene is promoted by binding of l-arginine in a nonoxidized conformation and of 2-oxoglutarate in an unprecedented high-energy conformation that favors ethylene, relative to succinate formation.

Cation–π Interactions Contribute to Substrate Recognition in γ‐Butyrobetaine Hydroxylase Catalysis

Abstract γ‐Butyrobetaine hydroxylase (BBOX) is a non‐heme FeII‐ and 2‐oxoglutarate‐dependent oxygenase that catalyzes the stereoselective hydroxylation of an unactivated C−H bond of γ‐butyrobetaine (γBB) in the final step of carnitine biosynthesis. BBOX contains an aromatic cage for the recognition of the positively charged trimethylammonium group of the γBB substrate. Enzyme binding and kinetic analyses on substrate analogues with P and As substituting for N in the trimethylammonium group show that the analogues are good BBOX substrates, which follow the efficiency trend N+>P+>As+. The results reveal that an uncharged carbon analogue of γBB is not a BBOX substrate, thus highlighting the importance of the energetically favorable cation–π interactions in productive substrate recognition.

Binding of (5S)-Penicilloic Acid to Penicillin Binding Protein 3.

β-Lactam antibiotics react with penicillin binding proteins (PBPs) to form relatively stable acyl-enzyme complexes. We describe structures derived from the reaction of piperacillin with PBP3 (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) including not only the anticipated acyl-enzyme complex but also an unprecedented complex with (5S)-penicilloic acid, which was formed by C-5 epimerization of the nascent (5R)-penicilloic acid product. Formation of the complex was confirmed by solution studies, including NMR. Together, these results will be useful in the design of new PBP inhibitors and raise the possibility that noncovalent PBP inhibition by penicilloic acids may be of clinical relevance.

Computational Prediction of Molecular Hydration Entropy with Hybrid Scaled Particle Theory and Free-Energy Perturbation Method

Despite the importance of the knowledge of molecular hydration entropy (ΔShyd) in chemical and biological processes, the exact calculation of ΔShyd is very difficult, because of the complexity in solute-water interactions. Although free-energy perturbation (FEP) methods have been employed quite widely in the literature, the poor convergent behavior of the van der Waals interaction term in the potential function limited the accuracy and robustness. In this study, we propose a new method for estimating ΔShyd by means of combining the FEP approach and the scaled particle theory (or information theory) to separately calculate the electrostatic solute-water interaction term (ΔSelec) and the hydrophobic contribution approximated by the cavity formation entropy (ΔScav), respectively. Decomposition of ΔShyd into ΔScav and ΔSelec terms is found to be very effective with a substantial accuracy enhancement in ΔShyd estimation, when compared to the conventional full FEP calculations. ΔScav appears to dominate over ΔSelec in magnitude, even in the case of polar solutes, implying that the major contribution to the entropic cost for hydration comes from the formation of a solvent-excluded volume. Our hybrid scaled particle theory and FEP method is thus found to enhance the accuracy of ΔShyd prediction by effectively complementing the conventional full FEP method.

Extended Morse function model for angle-dependent hydrogen bond in protein-protein interactions.

Backbone-backbone, backbone-asparagine, and serine-backbone hydrogen bonds (HBs) are the most abundant interactions at the interface of protein-protein complex. Here, we propose an angle-dependent potential energy function for these HBs constructed by the product of the radial and the angular Morse functions whose various parameters are optimized with high-level density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The new angular variables, the interatomic distance between the donor and the acceptor atoms (R(theta)) and that between the hydrogen and the base atom of the acceptor (R(phi)), are employed to define the angular Morse functions. The angular part in the new potential function is found to be comparable in the magnitude of energy values to the radial one, which is consistent with the significant angular dependence of HBs. The HB binding energies calculated with the new potential function compare well with those obtained by high-level DFT calculations with the associated squared correlation coefficients ranging from 0.82 to 0.85. This agreement indicates the suitability of the new energy functions as a potential function for HB in modeling the protein-protein interactions.